New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus (24) recovers the fumble as the Patriots take on the Colts in a pre season game. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus (24) recovers the fumble as the Patriots take on the Colts in a pre season game. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
FOXBORO — The Patriots seemingly survived a game without incurring multiple new injuries for the first time in a while.
And now they’re set to potentially see players return off of injured reserve.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said that guard Greg Van Roten and safety Dell Pettus could be designated to return off of injured reserve and practice this week.
“We probably won’t see him today, but maybe this week,” Vrabel said when asked about Van Roten. “We’ll see where that goes. Those guys, I think him and Dell are eligible, potentially, to try to get back out there and see where that goes. But we’ll have to make a decision with Marcus Bryant, so we’ll probably give us through today here. See where guys progress and go from there.”
Bryant has already been designated to return off of injured reserve. The Patriots already have a roster spot open for him.
If Pettus and Van Roten are designated to return, then the Patriots would only be able to activate four more players off of injured reserve. Wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker are locks to return if healthy.
The team also has fullback Reggie Gilliams, outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins and linebacker Khalil Hodges eligible to be activated.
Vrabel indicated that Vera-Tucker’s hamstring injury shouldn’t be season-ending.
“I don’t think it’s for the season, but I couldn’t tell you what short-term is determined by, however many weeks he has to be out,” Vrabel said. “It wasn’t going to be this week, so we figured it was going to be at least four games, so that’s why we made the decision that we made.”
The Patriots would be granted two more IR activations if they make the postseason.